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revolutionary 
Pension Declarations 

Strafford County, N. H., 1820- 1832 

COMPRISING 

Sketches of Soldiers of the Kevohition 

Compiled from the f curt Records by 
L.UCIEN THOMPSON 

DURHAAl, N. h. 




Printed for Priv ;t(- '^Circulation by 

WILLIAM LiNCCLN PALMER 

CAME'^ILGh. MASS. 

]O07 



ijliai 




Glass _ 
Book- 



revolutionary 
Pension Declarations 

Strafford County, 1820- 183 2 

COMPRISING 

Sketches of Soldiers of the Revolution 

Compiled from the Court Records by 
LUCIEN THOMPSON 



Reprinted from tlie 

GRANITE STATE MAGAZINE 

for August, 1907 



MANCHESTER, N. H.: 
THE RUEMELY PRESS, PRINTERS 

1907 



Gut 



Clebolutionarp Pension J^edarations 

Strafford County, 1820- 1832 

On File at the Office of the Clerk of the iSiqyerior Court, 
but not indexed^ in the iStrajford County Court House, 
Dover ^ N. H. 

Compiled by Lucien Thompson 

^^N THE spring of 1907, Mr. William Lincoln Palmer* 
^jj of Cambridge, Mass., and Mr. Lucien Thompson* 
' of Durham, N. H., while engaged in looking up the 

ancestry of an old Oyster River family, had occasion to con- 
sult the Court Records of Strafford County, New Hampshire. 
Through the courtesy of William W. Roberts, Esq., clerk 
of the Superior Court, we were allowed the privilege of 
looking over the old books back to 1773 when Strafford 
county was separated from Rockingham county. We also 
looked over some of the hundreds of packages of impor- 
tant papers relating to the various terms of the courts. 
These papers were not indexed at all. While thus 
engaged we accidentally made a valuable find of a pack- 
age containing the "Revolutionary Pension Declarations 
of Revolutionary Soldiers" living in Strafford county 
between 1820 and 1832. No court official was aware 
of the existence of these papers. These declarations 
were made in the Court of Common Pleas or Superior 
Court for Strafford county, and contained a statement of 
their property and income, a declaration of their service in 
the Revolutionary War, and the number and names of the 
pensioners' or applicants' families residing with them and 
their ages and capacities to contribute to their support. 



*Parties wishing further information in regard to these Revolutionary soldiers may corre- 
spond with either of the above-named parties. 



4 REVOLUTIONARY PENSION DECLARATIONS 

The court attached their opinion of the value of the 
property, etc., and sent a certified copy to the Secretary 
of War. 

An abstract of the Revolutionary service of each one 
has been carefully prepared by Lucien Thompson, in some 
cases copying same in full, when quotation marks are used, 
otherwise only an abstract is given. Unless otherwise 
stated they all served in the New Hampshire line. In giv- 
ing names of those persons dependent on the applicant 
for support, etc., it should be kept in mind that the names 
of those children who did not live in his immediate family 
are not given. 

The schedule of property given in the declaration has 
not been copied, as in each case it was of small amount and 
unimportant. 

In some cases the occupation given was "laborer," and 
in some cases the occupation was not given. The writer 
has given the occupation except in those cases where he is 
called "laborer." 

It is hoped that these Declarations will be of public 
interest, and that some persons in the other counties of 
this state, and other states, will hunt up the Revolutionary 
Pension Declarations of their counties and states and pub- 
ish them. 

REVOLUTIONARY PENSION DECLARATION 

Daniel Woodman (otherwise known as Daniel Martin) 
of Durham, formerly a slave in the Woodman family. 

To the Justices of the Court of Common Pleas now sitting 
at Dover within and for the County of Strafford and 
State of New Hampshire, on the first Tuesday of 
July, 1820: 

Dan Woodman, aged Seventy, resident in Durham in 
said County, comes into court and in pursuance of an act 
of Congress passed on the ist day of May, 1820, brings 
with him, and in his proper person exhibits to said Court a 



REVOLUTIONARY PENSION DECLARATIONS 

Schedule by him subscribed, containing his whole Estate 
and Income — his necessary clothing and bedding excepted 
— as follows: Sundry small articles of old household furni- 
ture estimated at $9.83. 

DAN X WOODMAN. 

mark 

And the said Dan Woodman in pursuance as aforesaid 
produceth to said Court the following oath by him duly 
taken and subscribed: — Viz. 

I Dan Woodman do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of 
the United States on the i8th day of March 1818, and that I have not, 
since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner disposed of my property, 
or any part thereof, with intent so to diminish it, as to bring myself within 
the provisions of an Act of Congress, entitled "An Act to provide for cer- 
tain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the Unite 1 States in 
the revolutionary war," passed the iSth of March 1S18; and that I have 
not, nor has any person in trust for me, anyproperty or securities, contracts 
or debts due to me, nor have I any other income than what is contained in 
the schedule hereunto annexed, and by me subscribed 

DAN X WOODMAN, 
mark 

And the said Dan Woodman doth here in Court 
further declare on oath that he served in the revolutionary 
war as follows, viz.: 

He entered on the 24th June 1777 in Capt. Rowell's company in Colo 
Geo. Reids Regt. New Hampshire line as a private Soldier & continued in 
in Said Regiment three years next ensuing said enlistment wh\en he was 
regularly discharged. 

That the date of his original declaration in order to obtain a pension 
is 19th Ap'l 1818 and the number of his pension certificate is 9617: — That 
his occupation is that of a labourer but am wholly unable to labour That 
the number and names of his family residing with him, and their ages and 
capacities to contribute to their support, are as follows, viz. 

My wife Nancy aged Sixty four years & is unable to labour or support 
herself. Wherefore he prays the opinion of the said Court as to the 
value of the property contained in said schedule, and that the same, 
together with a copy of the premises be duly certified to the Secretary of 
War. 

Sworn and declared before the said Court 
the fourth day of July I820 

DAN x^ WOODMAN 
mark 
Attest A. Peirce, Clerk. 



«6 REVOLUTIONARY PENSION DECLARATIONS 

State of New Hampshire Strap'fokd ss. 

At a Court of Common Pleas holden at Dover within and for the 
county of Strafford and State of New Hampshire, on the 4th day of July 
1820 before Daniel M. Durell, Esquire, Chief Justice, and Valentine Smith 
and Samuel Quarles, Associate Justices of said Court. 

The aforesaid schedule and oath and the above declaration duly sub- 
scribed and sworn by the said Dan Woodman having been by him exhib- 
ited in person, and presented to the Court, and the same being seen and 
considered, it is the opinion of said Court that the value of the property 
contained in said Schedule is Nine dollars eighty three cents. Wherefore 
the Court order that a copy of the premises, together with the proceed- 
ings thereon be duly certified to the Secretary of War. 

Attest, A. Peirce, Clerk. 

ABSTRACTS OF REVOLUTIONARY PENSION DECLARATIONS. 

Peter Akerman of Rochester, N. H.; aged 81; dated 
February 5, 1829; no family. Service: enlisted for one year 
in December; 1775, in Mass., in the company commanded 
by Captain Jonathan Wentvvorth, Poor's Regiment; served 
until February, 1777; discharged at Morristown, New Jer- 
sey; wounded in the arm; he was then receiving an Invalid 
Pension of five dollars per month. 

Joseph Bean of Gilmanton, N. H.; farmer; aged 88; 
dated September 11, 1821; wife Hannah, aged about 52; 
no children living with him, or able to support him. Ser- 
vice: P^nlisted on or about September 8, 1776, in Capt. 
Timothy Clement's Company, Col. Pierce Long's Regi- 
ment, served until September 8, 1777; discharged at Still- 
water, N. Y. 

Sergeant James Burnham of Somersworth, N. H.; 

carpenter; aged 74; dated February 9, 1829; wife, . 

Service: Enlisted spring of 1775 in Capt. Benj. Titcomb's 
Co., Poor's Regiment, for eight months; immediately re-en- 
listed for one year, same company and regiment; discharged 
about February i, 1777 at Morristown, New Jersey; rank 
during the whole service Sergeant. Afterwards served as 
Ensign in the service at West Point for the term of three 
months in 1780. 



REVOLUTIONARY PENSION DECLARATIONS 7 

Henry Buzzell of Middleton, N. H.; farmer; aged 
65; dated February 5, 1825; son Jacob Buzzell. Service: 
Enlisted in 1775 for one year in Capt. John Brewster's Co.; 
Long's Regiment; discharged at Stillwater, N. Y., at expi- 
ration of term of enlistment. 

Major James Carr of Somersworth, N. H.; husband- 
man; age Ti; dated February, 1821; wife 62, lived with his 
son. Service: enlisted in 1775 as Lieutenant; in 1776 pro- 
moted to Captain & before the close of War received a 
Major's Commission, and remained in the army until the 
close of the war. He was then receiving a pension. (Cer- 
tificate No 6974) under his original declaration of April 17, 
1818. 

Joseph Daniels of Barrington, N. H.; aged 72; dated 
November 26, 1823; wife aged 82. Service: Enlisted in 
August, 1776, in Capt. John Brewster's company. Long's 
Regiment; discharged August, 1777, at expiration of term 
of enlistment. "And that I served previous to that time 
as stated in my former declaration." 

Daniel Davison of Guilford, deceased invalid pen- 
sioner of the Revolution, died July 4, 1832, leaving a 
widow Abigail. Affidavits dated August 15, 1832. He 
married Abigail Quimby March 18, 1822. Service not 
stated. (Application for widow's pension.) 

John Davis of New Durham, N. H.; aged 69; dated 
February 4, 1829; "Declaration in order to be restored to 
the pension list under the Act of March, 1823. Service- 
Enlisted as Marinor for one year, October 16, 1779 at 
Kittery in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on board 
the ship Ranger commanded by Capt. Thomas Simpson, 
she being on the continental estabhshment, that he con- 
tinued to serve in the said vessel until she was captured, 
and did not get exchanged and return home till about the 
first of Sept, 1780 — that his name has been placed on the 



H REVOLUTIONARY PENSION DECLARATIONS 

pension list and dropped therefrom on account of his prop- 
erty." (His property now reduced in amount, etc.) 

Benaiah Dore of Milton, N. H.; age 64. Service; 
Enlisted in September or October 1781, in the District of 
Maine, in Capt. Fuller's company, 4th Mass. Regiment, 
commanded by Col. Shepard; "that he marched to West 
Point in the State of New York, and continued at that 
station until the last of August or first of September 1783 
when being sick, he was discharged from the service 
at that place — that his name has been placed on the pen- 
sion list, and dropped therefrom on account of his 
property." 

Abraham Drake of New Hampton, N. H., deceased 
Pensioner of the Revolution. He married Nancy Smith, 
November, 181 5. Rev. Simon Dana, New Hampton, 
signed affidavit to that effect August 20, 1832. Mr. Drake 
died March 4, 1832. 

Moses Ferren of Eaton, N. H.; aged 65; dated Sep- 
tember 6, 1820; wife aged 53, son Norris aged 17, daugh- 
ter aged 15. Service: "Enlisted under Capt. Sherman, 
Col. Baldwin's Regiment, Massachusetts line in 1775 for 
one year but before the time expired reenlisted for during 
the War & served under Capt. Robinson, Capt. Cherry & 
Capt Rowell in different Regiments and was honorably 
discharged at the close of the War. — he was at the retreat 
from Ticonderoga at the Capture of Gen'l Burgoyne — and 
with Gen'l Sullivan in the Indian Country — he was in the 
battle of Monmouth & at the Capture of Cornwallis." 

Under his original declaration of April 29, 1818, he 
was receiving a pension (pension certificate no 9596). 

John Gage of Strafford County (probably of Somers- 
worth); carpenter; aged 76; dated February 16, 1826; wife 
mare than 70; children had all left him. Service: Enlisted 
at Somersworth for nine months in June, 1775, in Capt. 
Jonathan Wentworth's Company, Col. Poor's Regiment; 



REVOLUTIONARY PENSION DECLARATIONS V 

discharged in April, 1776. He had not previously applied 
for a pension. 

John Garlin of Wakefield, N. H.; farmer; aged 66; 
wife 52, four sons, Nathaniel 14, Franklin 12, Jeremiah 8, 
Josiah 6 and one daughter Hannah aged 10 years. Declar- 
ation dated February 16, 1827 Service: Enlisted for three 
years, May, 1777, in Capt. William Rowell's company, Sec- 
ond Regiment commanded by Col. Hale; discharged at 
Stillwater, N. Y., at expiration of term of service. His 
name has been placed on the pension list and dropped 
therefrom on account of his property. 

Capt. Benjamin Gilman, Esq., Tamworth, N. H. 

We the undersigned Selectmen of the Town of Tamworth in the 
County of Strafford and State of New Hampshire certify that we are, and 
for a long time have been, well acquainted with Benjamin Gilman Esquire 
of said Tamworth, an applicant for a Pension from the United States, 
that we are well acquaintud with his character — That he has for many 
years Represented the Town of Tamworth in the New Hampshire Legis- 
lature — that he has ever maintained a fair and unblemished character for 
truth and veracity and that the most unlimited confidence may be placed 
in his declarations and that we have frequently heard it remarked and it is 
generally understood and believed in the neighborhood and Town where 
he lives, that he rendered services to his Country as a Soldier a part of the 
time during the Revolutionary war. 

H. W. STAPLES, 
DANIEL Q. BEAN, 
ENOCH REMICH, 
Selectmc}t of Tamworth for A. D. 1S32. 
August 2d, A. D. 1832. 

Silvanus Hall of Tamworth, N. H.; Carpenter or 
Joiner; aged 64; wife aged 66; Declaration February 8, 
1821 and September 17, 1824. Service: Served one year 
in Capt. Bradford's company, Col. Bailey's Regiment, 
Mass. line 1776-1777; Also three years in Col. Bassett's 
Regiment, Mass. line "except what time I was detached 
for one of Gen'l Washington's life guard and received a 
discharge which has been worn out"; dated March 13, 1780. 



10 REVOLUTIONARY PENSION DECLARATIONS 

The last service was performed in the years 1777, 1778 and 
1779. 

Ephraim Ham of Dover,* N. H.; aged 67; Declaration 
February 14, 1825. Service: Enlisted for three years 
April, 1777, Capt. Fred'k Bell's Company, Col. Hale's 
Regiment; discharged April 30th, 1780, at West Point, 
N. Y, That his name has been placed on the pension 
list, and dropped therefrom on account of his property 
which has been impaired. 

William Twombly (of Dover), in support of Ephraim 
Ham's Declaration, stated that he (Twombly) served in 
Revolutionary war from 1776 to spring of 1780, Second 
New Hampshire Regiment, and that Ephraim Ham served 
in same regiment with him Spring 1777 to Spring 1780, etc. 

Enoch Hayes of Tam worth, N, H., Affidavit as to his 
character for the past twenty years by his pastor, Samuel 
Hutchins of Tam worth, who added that he had "no doubt 
that he (Enoch Hayes) served in the United States Service 
as he has set forth in his declaration, etc., dated Aug. 23, 
1832." 

Afifidavit August 18, 1832, church committee. Select- 
men & Town Clerk stating Enoch Hayes had lived inTam- 
worth "Above thirty years & has sustained an unblemished 
moral character during that period so far as we know and 
seen or heard." 

Lieut. Thomas Haves of Gilmanton, N. H.; aged 
72; no family living with him, declaration September 11, 
1823. Service: Commissioned as Lieutenant in April, 
1780, Capt. Moses Leavitt's company, Col. Scammell's 
Regiment for nine months; served until the last of Jan- 



*Wentworth Genealogy, Vol. i, page i66. Ephraim Ham (5), born in 1760, lived on his 
father's homestead; he was a soldier in the Revolution, was selectman of Dover five years; 
married Hannah Kelley in 1785. He died in 1847. Son of Ephraim (,4) and Lydia (Hami) 
Ham. (For Ham see "Ham Family," N. H. Hist, and Gen. Register, 1872.) McDuffee, 
in History of Rochester, Vol. I, page 70, gives the following in Col. Rei.d's Regiment (from 
Rochester) : "Ephraim Ham Engaged April 10, 1777. Discharged May i, 1780." 



REVOLUTIONARY PENSION DECLARATIONS 11 

uary, 1781; discharged at West Point, N. Y., at expiration 
of term of service. 

Nathaniel Hayford of Tamworth, N. H.; aged 68; 
wife 52; declaration September 4, 1823. Service: Enlisted 
for three years in the fall of 1777, Capt. Scott's company, 
Col. Henry Jackson's Regiment, Mass. line; discharged 
fall of 1780 at the heights above Morristown, New Jersey, 
that his name has been placed on the pension list, and 
dropt therefrom on account of his property. 

John Holmes of Strafford, N. H.; aged 65; farmer; 
wife 40; daughter 7, "a domestic girl aged about seventeen 
years and a domestic boy aged about eleven years." 
Declaration dated February 4, 1829. Service: "Enlisted 
as a soldier in the Revolutionary army in March, 1781, as a 
private in Captain Fogg's company in the second New 
Hampshire Regiment commanded by Col. George Read on 
the Continental establishment, and continued under the 
immediate command of Capt. Fogg untill he was promoted 
and succeeded in the command by Capt. Frye — that he 
served at White plains, near New York in the campaign of 
1 78 1 & in the autumn marched to Albany and Skenectady 
— that in the year 1782, he marched up the Mohawk river 
& remained on that frontier to protect the Inhabitants of 
that frontier from incursions of the Indians, & from 
thence was marched to Newburgh in the State of New 
York, where the Army took up its winter quarters — and at 
the conclusion of the Revolutionary war was discharged 
from the army, near West Point, on the 25th December, 
1783." 

Israel Huckins of Barrington, N. H.; aged 60; wife 
60; Declaration September 8, 1820. Service: Enlisted for 
one year, August, 1776, Capt. John Brewster's company. 
Col. Long's Regiment; discharged at Stillwater, N. Y., in 
sum.mer of 1777. 



12 REVOLUTIONARY PENSION DECLARATIONS 

Solomon Hutchins of Wakefield, N. H.; farmer; 
aged 69; wife 62; sons Solomon L. Hutchins (consumptive) 

26 years of age who has a wife and two children (4 yrs. 
and I yr. old), son Asa Hutchins 18 years of age deaf & 
dumb. Declaration February 6, 1829. Service: "Enlisted 
for the term of one year in the month of October in the 
year 1777 at Portsmouth in the State of New Hampshire 
as a marriner on board the United States Sloop of War 
Ranger commanded by Captain John Paul Jones on the 
Continental establishment — that he continued to serve in 
said vessel until some time in the month of October, 1778, 
when he was discharged from said service in Portsmouth in 
the State of New Hampshire — that the said Solomon 
Hutchins again enlisted for the term of one year on the 

27 day of October 1779 at I^ortsmouth in the State of New 
Hampshire as a Marriner on board said United States 
Sloop of War Ranger commanded by Captain Thomas 
Simpson on the Continental Establishment— that he con- 
tinued to serve in said vessel until the 12th day of May 
A. D. 1780 when said vessel was captured by the Brittish 
at Charleston in the State of South Carolina — that he con- 
tinued in the service of the United States as a Marriner 
until he arrived in Portsmouth in the State of New Hamp- 
shire by land about the first of September A. D. 1780, 
when he was discharged at said Portsmouth." 

Amos Leavitt of New Hampton, N. H.; aged 62; 
wife Dorothy aged 55; daughter Polly aged 16. Declar- 
ation dated P'ebruary 8, 1821. (He was receiving pension, 
Certificate No. 10882, under Original Declaration of April 
23, 1818.) Service: that he entered said service in Capt. 
Rowell's Company and Col. Hale's Reg. of the New 
Hampshire line sometime in the month of May "seventeen 
hundred and seventy seven and continued therein three 
years." (Additional Declaration September 10, 1827, en- 
listed in April or May, 1777, etc.) 

Jonathan Leavitt of Conway, N. H.; farmer; aged 
61; wife Elizabeth 47; children Mary 15, Betsey 13, Han- 



REVOLUTIONARY PENSION DECLARATIONS 13 

nah II, Ebenezer lo, Jonathan 8, David 5, Harriet one 
year and five months. Declaration dated February 7, 1821. 
Service: "As a fifer in the company commanded by Capt. 
James Norris in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Poor 
in the line of the State of New Hampshire on the Conti- 
nental Establishment as is more particularly described in 
my original declaration" June 1818 under which he was 
then receiving a pension (Certificate No. 14030). 

Joseph Marsh of Gilmanton, N. H.; blacksmith, 
aged 75; resided with his son. Service: Enlisted for eight 
months in Capt. Philip Tilton's Company, Col. Poor's Regi- 
ment; after expiration of eight months, re-enlisted for one 
year in Capt. James Norris' Company in the same regi- 
ment; at expiration of time re-enlisted "for six weeks in 
the same company that his first enlistment in the company 
of Capt. Philip Tilton was in May 1775 that he continued 
to serve in said Corps until February 1777 when he was 
discharged from the service in Exeter in the State of New 
Hampshire." 

John Marston. (Declaration missing.) 

T do certify that I am well acquainted with John Marston the signer 
of the accompanying declaration and I believe him to be a man of truth 
and has that reputation and I have no doubt as to the service performed 

as set forth in said declaration 

PAUL WENTWORTH. 
Strafford ss. Aug't 23d 1S32. 
Sworn to Before me 

Geo. F. Marston Jus. Peace. 
August 23d, 1832. 

Samuel Martin of Sandwich, N. H.; farmer; aged 65 
wife 52, children Solon 14, Caroline 9, Marcia 7. Declar-- 
ation signed September 4, 1823. Service: Enlisted for one 
year on or about the middle of August, 1776, in Capt. 
Timothy Clements' company, Col. Long's Regiment; dis- 
charged in August 1777 at Stillwater, N. Y. — that his 
name has been placed on the pension list, and dropt there- 
from on account of his property. 



14 REVOLUTIONARY PENSION DECLARATIONS 

Simeon Mason, N. H.; farmer; aged 71; wife Abigail 
67, invalid daughter Elmira W. Mason aged 21 years. He 
mentions a son William. He affirmed the declaration 
February 6, 1829, implying that he was a Quaker. Ser- 
vice: Enlisted for three years on April 6, 1777, in Capt. 
James Norris' Company, Col. Hale's Regiment. Served 
until March 10, 1780, when he was discharged in Reading, 
Conn. — that his name has been on the pension list and 
dropped therefrom on account of his property. 

David Morrison of Alton, N. H.; yeoman; aged 65; 
wife Mary 63; daughter Isabel, 38, unmarried and an inva- 
lid. Declaration February 3, 1829, in order to be restored 
to the Pension List, having been dropped on account of 
his property. Former Pension Certificate No. 13886 dated 
July 8, 1819. Service: Enlisted for three years, February 
14, 1781, Capt. Robinson's Company and was afterwards 
transferred to Capt. Potter's Company, Col. Read's Regi- 
ment, discharged December, 1783, near West Point, N. Y. 

Benjamin Morse of Moultonborough, N. H.; aged 75: 
farmer; wife Nancy aged 64, grand-daughter Mary Ann 
Morse aged 7; declaration dated January 28, 1830. Ser- 
vice: "Enlisted June 1775 at Roxbury, Mass., for six 
months in place of David Hill by permission of Captain 
Thomas Cogswell who then Commanded A Company of 
Infantry in ColonelLaomi Baldwin's Regiment" Mass. line. 
Served until December following being the time for which 
said Hill enlisted. Re-enlisted at Roxbury, Mass., for one 
year in Captain Thomas Miels' company in Col. Baldwin's 
Regiment," where he served until December, 1776. Re- 
enlisted for the winter following at Trenton, New Jersey, 
in the same company and regiment, where he served until 
spring; discharged at Peekskill, N. Y. 

During the term that he was in service he was in the 
Battle of White Plains at Trenton— At the Battle of 
Princeton and at the Battle of Ouibbleton — that his name 



REVOLUTIONARY PENSION DECLARATIONS 15 

has been placed upon the Pension Ust and dropped there- 
from on account of his property. 

Jonathan Morrison of Tuftonborough, N. H. (Dec- 
laration Missing.) 

Affidavit of five persons signed July 7, 1832, that Jonathan Morrison 
of Tuftonborough, N. H., served in the Revolutionary War the several 
periods of time, he has specified in his declai'ation in order to obtain a 
pension, 

Edward B. Moulton of Moultonborough, N. H.; 
farmer; aged 67; wife Anna aged 59, a cripple caused by 
rheumatism; declaration dated February 11, 1822. Service: 
"Enlisted at Hampton, N. H., sometime the first of May, 
1775, Capt. Henry Elkins' company, Col. Poor's Regiment; 
served until the ist of January 1776 and by request of Gen'l 
Sullivan continued in the regiment aforesaid in the Compy 
of Capt. Beal until the first day of March, 1776, when he 
was discharged at Cambridge, Mass. Re-enlisted in 
August, 1776, under Captain Prescott, Colonel Tasker's 
Regiment and served until January, 1777, and was dismised 
at Peckskill, N. Y.— that he was in the battle at White 
plains in 1776." 

Reuben Moulton. (Declaration missing.) 

I do hereby certify that Reuben Moulton the signer of the accom- 
paning declaration is a man of truth and varacity and has always (I 
believe) sustained that reputation. — & have no doubt as to the service he 
states he performed is true. 

GEORGE F. MARSTON. 
August 23, 1832. 
Strafford ss, Aug't 23d, 1832. 
Sworn to before me, 

Paul Wentworth, Jus. Peace 

George Nichols of Holderness, N. H.; farmer; aged 
68; wife Susanna aged 63, daughter Martha aged 38, inva- 
lid; declaration made September 9, 1822. Service: "As a 
private in the Company commanded by Capt. Arch. Crary 
— Col. John Varnum's Regiment, Rhode Island line in the 
month of June 1775; and discharged in the month of June 



16 REVOLUTIONARY PENSION DECLARATIONS 

1778 at the White plains, State of New York, and was in 
the Battles at Bunker Hill and at White Plains." 

This declaration is accompanied by an affidavit of 
August 30, 1832, signed by Lucy Crawford and Mary Ann 
Nichols of Guilford, N. H.; daughters of the late George 
and Susanna Nichols of Holderness, N. H. In this affi- 
davit they state that George Nichols of Guilford, a Revolu- 
tionary Pensioner, died May 21, 1832, that the widow was 
now living, and that they were joined in marriage by the 
elder Judge Livermore of Holderness. 

David Page of Guilford, N. H.; died January 13, 
1832. Revolutionary Soldier. Affidavit, April 3, 1832, of 
Richard Rowe and Deborah Rowe, his wife, of Guilford, 
says that David Page was their uncle, that his widow is 
Betsy Page, that they lived together as man and wife for 
more than thirty years and always understood they were 
joined in the marriage covenants, etc., that he was a Revo- 
lutionary Pensioner. 

David Piper of Wolfeborough, N. H.; farmer; aged 
64; wife 69 or 70 years of age, helpless; children Sally 
Piper born November 7, 1788, Abigail Piper born F'ebruary 
13, 1792, Susanna Piper born April 1794, Mary Piper born 
April 25, 1800 — grandson John Piper aged four years 
whose father has deceased. Declaration signed February 
6, 1 82 1. Service: "I enlisted into Capt. Titcomb's Com- 
pany in 1776, New Hampshire Line, attached to Col. Poor's 
Reg't, marched from Winter Hill to the City of New 
York, from thence to Albany, from thence to Ticonderoga, 
from thence to St. John's, from thence to Cynell, from 
thence to Montreal, from thence up the St. Laurence to 
Fort Ann, from thence returned to Montreal, from thence 
to Chimney point in New York; from thence to Mount 
Independence, from thence to Newtown in Pennsylvania, 
from thence to Trenton and assisted in capturing the Hes- 
sians, from thence returned to Newtown, from thence 
marched to Trenton, my Term of enlisment (which was 



REVOLUTIONARY PENSION DECLARATIONS 17 

for one year) then expired. I again enlisted into Capt. 
Titcomb's company for six weeks, and during that time 
was in the battle of Princeton, from thence marched to 
Morristown, when the term of my last enlistment expired. 
In June or July following (as I believe) I again enlisted for 
the term of three years into Capt. Gray's Company, New 
Hampshire line, attached to Col. Scammell's Reg't, 
marched to Bennington; was in. the battle of Bennington, 
from thence marched to the Mohawk Falls in New York, 
from thence marched to Bemis' Heights, and was engaged 
in both battles at that place, in the last of which, I received 
a wound in my head, and have been partially deaf ever since, 
from thence marched to Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, from 
thence to White plains, New York, from thence marched 
against the Indians as far as Genesee, under Gen'l Sullivan, 
from thence returned through New Jersey, and wintered 
at Newtown (Connecticut — and from thence marched to 
West Point, and was then honorably discharged." 

Reuben Ricker of Dover, N. H.; tailor; age 63; 
wife Molly aged 63; granddaughter aged 12. Declaration 
signed F'ebruary 15, 1821. Original Declaration April, 
1817, pension certificate 155 13. Service: "In Captain John 
Brewster's company in Colo. Peirse Long's regiment from 
August A. D. 1776, to August 1777, one year." 

Benjamin Roberts of Rochester, N. H.; aged 74; 
under guardianship of Caleb Roberts. Declaration signed 
February 4, 1829. Additional affidavit by Caleb Roberts 
P'ebruary 2, 1829, who was appointed guardian in February 
1 824. Service: "Enlisted for the term of one year in December 
1775 in the State of Mass. in the company of Captain Fred- 
erick M. Bell, Col. Poor's Regiment. He marched from Win- 
ter hill, near Boston, to New York & thence up the North 
river to Lake George & thence to Sorelle — and retreated 
with the Army to Ticonderoga — and was discharged at 
Mount Independence — having served at this time from 
December 1775 to November 1776 — that his name has been 



18 REVOLUTIONARY PENSION DECLARATIONS 

placed on the pension list, and dropped therefrom on 
account of his property." 

James Sanborn, Strafford County, N. H.; aged 63; 
wife and sick daughter; Declaration, September 4, 1823. 
Service: Enlisted for one year on or about the tenth of 
August, 1776, in Company of Capt. Timothy Chamberlain, 
Regiment of Col. Pierce Long. At expiration of term, 
discharged at Stillwater, N. Y. — That his name has been 
placed on the pension list, and dropt therefrom on account 
of his property, 

Reuben Sanderson of Sandwich, N. H.; farmer; 
aged 66; wife 50, lame; children of his wife by former mar- 
riage Phineas Bacon 19, Jane Bacon 17, Edmund Bacon 13; 
my son John M. Sanderson aged 8. Declaration dated 
January 2, 1821. Service: "Eight years and seven months, 
in the years 1775 and 1776 a private in Col. Miles & Col. 
Shedings Regiments Connecticut line Continental service 
-Non commissioned officer in Col. Jedidiah Huntington's 
Regiment in E. Holmes' Company same line and same ser- 
vice till promoted to an P2nsign & served in that office till 
promoted to a Lieutenant. Both of his commissions are 
now in the War Office." 

He was then receiving a pension (Certificate No. 2794) 
under his original declaration of April 25, 181 8. 

Moses Senter. 

Affidavit: I John Thompson depose & say that I have repeatedly 
heard Moses Senter relate his services in the Revolutionary War, and 
have no doubt of the truth & correctness of his declaration this day made 
in Court — he is a man of undoubted truth & veracity. 

JOHN THOMPSON. 
Sworn in Court, Aug't 25, 1832. 

Att't A. Peirce, Clerk. 

Benjamin Sleeper of Alton, N. H.; aged 61; wife 
Ruth aged 58; Declaration July 18, 1820. Service: "He 
entered the Comp'y of Capt. Gray, Col. Scammell's Regi- 
ment New Hampshire line in 1777 for three years, served 



REVOLUTIONARY PENSION DECLARATIONS 19 

his time out and was discharged in 1780 April 20th at West 
Point. — was at the taking of Burgoyne at the battle of 
Monmouth, was in the Indian Country with Gen'l Sulli- 
van, &c." 

Edward Smith of Gilmanton, N. H.; aged yy, farmer; 
having lost part of one hand, his wife having lost one eye. 
Declaration made February 7, 1828 to be restored to the 
pension list. Service: Enlisted for three years in March or 
April 1777, Capt. Frye's company. Col Cilley's Reg't; 
honorably discharged at expiration of his term of 
enlistment. 

Henry Smith of Sanbornton, N. H.; farmer; aged 69 
years 10 months; wife, daughter Hannah Smith aged 35, 
daughter Huldah Smith aged 23, youngest son Gamaliel 
Smith aged 14, and Josiah C. Smith who has lived with me 
on hire between four and five years. Service: Enlisted for 
three years in April, 1782, in Capt. Monroe's Company, 
Col. Henry Dearborn's Regiment, "that he continued to 
serve in said regiment until the end of the War & was con- 
tinued in the service of the United States under Col. Reed 
& Hale untill 1784 when he was discharged from the ser- 
vice at West Point in the State of New York."* 

Declaration made October 21, 1830, in order to be 
continued on the Pension List. From his statement he 
had four sons, the oldest being eight years older than the 
youngest. 

Jeremiah Smith of Sanbornton, N. H.; aged 60; 
wife Lornhama aged 68; daughter Polly S. Smith aged 40, 
invalid; granddaughter Amanda Smith aged 5. Declaration 
February 10, 1821. (He was then receiving pension under 
original declaration April 28, 1818, pension certificate 
3385.) Service: "That on the fourth day of April A. D., 



*McDuffee's History of Rochester, Vol. I, page 71, Henry Smith engaged May i, 1781, 
for three years. Claimed by town of Rochester as in service May 13, 1782. Regiment 
unknown. 



20 REVOLUTIONARY PENSION DECLARATIONS 

1777, he enlisted in the Town of Sanbornton in said State 
in the Company commanded by Capt. James Gray and 
Regiment commanded by Col. Alexander Scammel New- 
hampshire line for three years — that he continued to serve 
the said three years in the United States on the Conti- 
nental establishment in the Revolutionary war and was 
discharged at Danbury in the State of Connecticut on the 
fourth day of April 1780." 

Joseph Smith of Sanbornton, N. H.; tailor; aged 70; 
wife aged 57; son aged 18 and insane. Declaration July 
18, 1820. He then held pension certificate 14322 under 
original declaration April 9, 18 18. Service: "I enlisted 
February 17, 1776 under Capt. Jacob Gerrish in Col. 
Moses Little's Regiment, Massachusetts line for one year 
and was discharged the 20th of December following on 
account of being troubled with Rheumatism." 

Eli Sumner of Rochester, N. H; aged 65; wife 
Elizabeth aged 59; granddaughter aged 14. Declaration 
July 4, 1820. He then held pension certificate 7724 
under original declaration April 16, 1818. Service: "1777- 
177S-1779 inclusive — That he enlisted in the Company 
Commanded by Captain John Spurr in the Sixth Regiment 
Commanded by Col. John Nixon in the Massachusetts 
Line — That he was regularly & honorably discharged from 
the service." 

Daniel Swett of Gilmanton, N. H.; farmer; aged 
58 years; wife aged 56 infirm; daughter Lydia 18, son Ben- 
jamin 16, daughter Eunice 12, daughter Almira 10. Dec- 
laration September 7, 1821. He then held pension certifi- 
cate 15873 under original declaration April 23, 1818. Ser- 
vice: "He entered the service of the United States on the 
1 6th July 1779 and served under Capt. Carr in Col. Reids 
Regiment in the New Hampshire line untill 19th July 
1780 when he was honorably discharged." 

William Taylor of Sanbornton, N. H.; Cordwainer; 
aged 63; son 18, son 12 "and a servant girl who cooks for 



REVOLUTIONARY PENSION DECLARATIONS 21 

US." Declaration July 18, 1820. He then held pension 
certificate 3388 under original declaration of April 9, 1818. 
Service: "I enlisted under Captain Jeremiah Clough 
belonging to Col. Enoch Poor's Regiment of the New- 
Hampshire line for seven months in May 1775, marched to 
a place Winter Hill in June following staid there til 
December following, my term being then about to expire I 
then enlisted under the same Capt. Clough for the term of 
one year — We staid at said Winter Hill until March 1776 
when we marched to New York, thence to Canada, from 
thence we marched to Ticonderoga which was about some 
time in July of the same year. In November following 
Col. Poor's Regiment was ordered to March to the South 
at which time I was sick and left but received permission 
to return home as soon as I was able which I did sometime 
in December following making in the whole time I was out 
at that time about 19 months." 

Ephraim Tebbets Strafford County, N. H.; joiner; 
aged J'^, partially blind; wife Tamson aged 6'^, daughters 
Tamson Tebbets aged 34 invalid, Betsey Tebbets aged 28, 
grandson Ephraim Tebbets. Declaration September 15, 
1826. Service: Enlisted for eight months about May 15, 
1775, in Capt Swinborn Adam's company, Col. Poor's Regt.; 
and about the expiration of said eight months, he enlisted 
for one year in Capt. Jonathan Wentworth's company in 
the same regiment; served till February, 1777, when he was 
discharged from the service at Exeter, N. H. Filed 
another declaration F"ebruary 4, 1829. 

David Thompson, Guilford, N. H.; farmer; aged 63; 
wife Rachel aged 53, son Levi aged 14, daughter Judith 
Thompson aged 22 in feeble health. Declaration July 18, 
1820. Service: "A private in the Company Commanded 
by Capt, Jacob Hinds in Col. James Reeds Regiment New^ 
Hampshire Line on the Continental establishment from 
the fore part of the year 1775 for eight months when he 
again enlisted in the same company & served until the last 



22 REVOLUTIONARY PENSION DECLARATIONS 

of the year 1776 and that he again enlisted in the first of 
the year 1778 for three years in the Regiment commanded 
by Col. Tho's Crafts in the Massachusetts Line, (Captain's 
name not remembered) & continued two years when the 
regiment was broken up — That he was in the battle of 
Rhode Island in 1778." 

Samuel Thompson of Sandwich, N. H.; farmer; aged 
64; wife 50; daughter 13. Declaration July 14, 1820. He 
then held pension certificate 7718 under original declaration 
April 24, 1 81 8. Service: "Seven years in all. Eighteen 
months in the Regiment commanded by Col. Enoch Poor 
in the New Hampshire Line, Continental service. Five 
years in the Corps of Rangers commanded by Maj'r Kenja 
Whitcomb. The remainder of said time served in the 
Second New Hampshire Regiment commanded by Col. 
George Read, all in the Continental Service,"* 

John B. Tilton, (Declaration missing.) 

Affidavit. I do certify that I am well acquainted witli Jolin B. 
Tilton the signer of the accompanying declaration and that 1 consider 
him a man of truth and has that reputation and I do beheve & have no 
doubt that he performed the services therein set forth. 

PAUL WENTWOKTH. 
Aug't 23d 1832 

Strafford s. s. August 23d 1832 
Sworn to Before me 

Geo. F. Marston, Jus. Peace. 

William Twombly, Dover, N. H.; Mariner; aged 63; 
wife aged 50, and an elderly sister dependent and infirm; 
son 21 years old, infirm; son 15 years old. Declaration July 
4, 1820. He then held pension certificate 809 under original 
declaration April 11, 1818. Service: "That he entered the 
service in the fall of the year 1775 in the Company com- 
manded by Capt. Benjamin Titcomb in Col. Poor's Regi- 
ment of the New Hampshire line, that in 1776 he was 
appointed Orderly Sergeant of said Company and that he 



*The Revolutionary War Rolls, N. H., and the Durham Town Records show that this 
Samuel Thompson and his family resided in Durham, N. H., during the war. 



REVOLUTIONARY PENSION DECLARATIONS 23 

received a commission of Ensign in the same Company & 
Regiment in October, 1777 which commission was trans- 
mitted to the Office of the Secretary of War with his 
former declaration & that he continued in said service till 
1780 when he received his Discharge at his own request as 
appears on the back of said Commission & that during all 
that time he continued in said service." 

John Wadleigh, Gilmanton, N. H.; aged 65, wife 
Martha aged 49, children, Sophia 8, Larry 6, Nathan 3. 
Declaration July 18, 1820. He then held pension certifi- 
cate 2791 under original declaration of April 11, 1818. 
Service: "In Captain Michael McClary's company in Col. 
Alexander Scammel's Regiment, enlisted 1777 and served 
during the War." 

Nathaniel Wadleigh of Meredith, N. H.; farmer; 
aged 69, lost part of one hand, wife subject to fits. Declar- 
ation August II, 1828. Service: "Enlisted as a Soldier for 
the term of nine months sometime in the month of June, 
1778, in the Massachusetts' line in the Company com- 
manded by Capt. Marshall in Col. Marshall's Regiment in 
the State of Massachusetts on the Continental Establish- 
ment, that he continued to serve in said Regiment for said 
term of nine months and was honorably discharged after 
his term of enlistment had expired." 

Benjamin Wallace of Sandwich, N. H.; farmer; 
aged 56; wife 60; son Jere. Wallace aged 35, son Benjamin 
Wallace non-compos mentis, daughter Hannah Wallace. 
Declaration July 14, 1820, and January 2. 1821. He then 
held pension certificate No. 7323 under Original declaration 
April 24, 1818. Service: "Three years in the second New 
Hampshire Regiment commanded by Col. George Read on 
the Continental establishment, and was discharged by Gen- 
eral Jackson, which discharge has been forw^arded to the 
War Department by Judge Badger before whom I made 
my original declaration" 



24 REVOLUTIONARY PENSION DECLARATIONS 

Cesar Wallace of Meredith, N. H.; farmer; aged 
90; wife Katy aged 72, daughter Lucy aged 27. Declar- 
ation July 18, 1820. He then held pension certificate No. 
4826 under original declaration of April 23, 1818. Service: 
private in Capt. Caleb Robinson's company, Second N. H, 
Regiment commanded by Col. George Reed. He was dis- 
charged at Hartford. He was in the Indian country, at 
the battle of Herkimer, at Bunker Hill etc. He entered 
in 1777 and served until the close of the war. 

Weymouth Wallace of Sandwich, N. H.; farmer; 
aged JJ; granddaughter living with him. Declaration Feb- 
ruary 7, 1829. 

Service: "Enlisted for the term of nine months in May 
1776 at Epsom in the State of New Hampshire in the Com- 
pany commanded by Captain Amos Morrill in the Regi- 
ment commanded by Colonel John Stark in the line of 
New Hampshire on the Continental Establishment and that 
at the expiration of said nine months he the said Wey- 
mouth Wallis again enlisted for the further term of one 
year in the same company and Regiment in the line of New 
Hampshire on the continental establishment and that he 
continued to serve in said Corps from the time of his first 
said enlistment until December 1777 when he was dis- 
charged from the service in Lower Canada, that he was 
wounded in the Battle of Bunker Hill by a ball which 
passed through his arm, that he now receives a pension of 
forty eight dollars as an invalid pensioner, that his name 
has been placed on the pension list under the act of 18 18 
and dropped therefrom on account of his property." 

He made a previous declaration July 14, 1820, in which 
he stated that he then held pension certificate No. 13456, 
aged 69; daughter Sally Wallace aged 29; granddaughter 
named Lovina Mooney aged 21; grandson aged 8 years. 
Service: "Nine months in Capt. Henry Dearborn's com- 
pany and was wounded in the Battle of Bunker Hill in year 
1776. One year in the Regiment commanded by Col. John 



REVOLUTIONARY PENSION DECLARATIONS "25 

Stark and Company Commanded by Capt. Amos Morrill, 
commencing in November or December 1776 and ending 
I777-" 

(Both declarations of services are given as they differ 
somewhat.) 

Francis Walls of Durham, N. H.; age 60, no family, 
declaration July 26, 1820. Service: "I Francis Walls now 
resident in Durham, etc., aged sixty years depose on oath 
that I enlisted in the service of the U. S. in the revolu- 
tionary war some time in December 1775, as a drummer in 
the Company commanded by Capt. Benjamin Titcomb of 
the s'd N. H. Reg't, for one year which time I served in 
said company & at the expiration of said year's service I 
again enlisted in said company which then was at Ticon- 
deroga to serve during the war & that I continued in the 
same company & Reg't which company was successively 
commanded by Capt. Titcomb, Rowel & Fogg until June 
1783 when I was discharged from said service at West 
Point in the State of New York— That I was in the Battles 
of Trenton, Princeton, Hubbardston, two Battles with Bur- 
goyne nigh Stillwater, Monmouth, & Fort Herkimer." 

William Warren of Moultonboro', N. H.; Carpen- 
ter; aged 68; wife aged 67. Declaration July 11, 1820. 
Service: "One year in the Regiment commanded by Col. 
Edward Phinney & in the Company commanded by Capt. 
Abraham Tyler in the Massachusetts line. He entered in 
December 1775 & was discharged January 1777" 

Daniel Watson of Rochester, N. H.; aged d"]; wife 
aged about 50 and insane. Declaration July 4, 1820. He 
then held pension certificate 7728 under original declaration 
of April 4, 1818. Service: "That he enlisted in the com- 
pany commanded by Capt. James Carr, in Col. Hale's Regi- 
ment in the New Hampshire line on the 2d day of May, 
1777, that he joined the Army the June following at Ticon- 
deroga, that he continued in said service three years for 



26 REVOLUTIONARY PENSION DECLARATIONS 

which time he enhsted when he was honorably discharged 
at West Point." 

John Watson of Sandwich, N. H,; farmer; aged 62; 
wife aged 65; son John Watson 20, daughter Betsey Wat- 
son 17. Declaration July 14, 1820. He then held pension 
certificate 16504 under original declaration April 25, 1818. 
Service: "One year in Colonel Poor's Regiment in the 
Company commanded by Captain Philip Tilton in the New 
Hampshire line and Continental establishment Said service 
performed in the year 1776." 

John Watson of W^akefield, N. H.; farmer; aged 60; 
wife 70. Declaration July 11, 1820. He then held pen- 
sion certificate 7571 under original declaration April 14, 
1818. Service: "In the Company commanded by Captain 
David McGregor in the Second New Hampshire Regiment 
Commanded by Colonel George Reed and when during 
the war men were discharged I was transferred to Captain 
Isaac Frye's company in s'd Regiment and served in the 
whole three years in the Continental service and was honor- 
ably discharged by Gen'l Jackson at West Point Dec'r 
20, 1783" 

Supplementary Declarations made August 7, 1822, and 
August I, 1823, in the last he stated that his name has 
been placed on the Pension list, and dropped therefrom on 
account of his property. (Not able to attend court per- 
sonally.) 

Joseph Weed of Ossipee, N. H.; blacksmith; aged 66; 
wife Abigail aged 59: sons Moses and Aaron aged 12. 
Declaration July 11, 1820. He then held pension certifi- 
cate II 788 original declaration May 13, 181 8. Service: 
"In the Company Commanded by Captain John Baker, 
Col. Little's Regiment, Massachusetts line in the year 
1776 about ten months and was in the battle of flat- 
bush and was in the battle between the American Gallies 
and the British frigates at topon bay in the North river. 
And served in the Company Commanded by Captain Cogs- 



REVOLUTIONARY PENSION DECLARATIONS 27 

well in Col. Wesson's Regiment, Massachusetts line from 
March or April 1777 to March 1780 and was in the battle 
at Monmouth." 

Stephen Webster, 2d, of New Durham, N. H.; aged 
79; no family living with him. Declaration July ii, 1820. 
He then held pension certificate 13916 under original 
declaration of June 11, 1818. Service: "He enli.sted in 
1776 in Col. Timo. Beedles' Regiment. New Hampshire line 
as a Soldier and continued 8 months & was regularly dis- 
charged. In 1777 was with Gen. Stark two months & was 
at the Battle of Bennington — again enlisted in 1778 in 
Capt. Daniel Livermore's Comp'y, Col. Scammell's Regi- 
ment, and continued in said Reg't three years & was regu- 
larly discharged in 1781." 

Matthias Welch of Rochester, N. H.; aged 66; wife 
Rachel aged 62. Declaration July 4, 1820. He then held 
pension certificate 4778 under original declaration April 16, 
1 81 8. Service: "That he served in Capt. John Drew's 
Company, Second Regiment New Hampshire Line, that he 
enlisted in said service about the month of November 1776 
and continued in said service untill the year 1783 when he 
was honorably discharged from the Army."* 

Phineas Wentworth of Dover, N. H.; aged 71; no 
family residing with him. Declaration July 4, 1820. He 
then held pension certificate 9620 under original declara- 
tion of April 13, 1818. Service: "That he entered into 
said service in June or July 1775 in Capt. Benjamin 
Titcomb's Company & Col. Poor's Reg't of the New Hamp- 
shire line & that he continued in said service till June 1783 
when he was discharged. 

Joseph White of Ossipee, N. H.; farmer; aged 58; 
wife Jane 57; children, Polly 16, Eunice 13, Joseph 10, 



*McDuffee's History of Rochester, Vol. I, page 71, Matthias Welch (of Rochester) 
engaged February, 1777, for the war, deserted November 27,1778; joined May 1,1780. 
Claimed by the town as in service May 13, 1782. 



28 REVOLUTIONARY PENSION DECLARATIONS 

Isaac 8, Sally 5. Declaration July 11, 1820 (one arm, sev- 
eral ribs broken & shoulder broken down, very much crip- 
pled.) He then held pension certificate no 12727 under 
original declaration May 12, 181 8. Service: "In the Com- 
pany Commanded by Capt'n Joseph Killam in the fifth 
Regiment Massachusetts line from some time in the year 
1781 to the last of the year 1783 or the first of the year 
1784, when he was discharged at West point, by General 
Knox. Served in the Company & service aforesaid between 
two and three years." 

Jonathan Whitehorn of Alton, N. H.; farmer; aged 
64; wife aged 64; declaration July 11, 1820. He then held 
pension certificate 12728 under original declaration April 
21, 1 81 8. Service: "He enlisted in June 1775 into the 
Company commanded by Capt. Jonathan Wentworth for 
eighteen months. He joined the army at Winterhill, he 
was in Col. Poor's Regiment, New Hampshire line, from 
Winterhill he marched to New London, from thence to 
New York and so on a circuitous route to Philadelphia, 
thence to West point and Ticonderoga, thence with Gen. 
Arnold into Canada, thence to Mount Independence where 
his term of eighteen months was expired and he had a reg- 
ular discharge." 

Silas White of Ossipee, N. H.; farmer; aged 61; 
wife Rachel aged 63; my daughter Rachel aged 39 and her 
child 4 years old, my daughter Anna aged 27 and her three 
children, my daughter Fanny aged 18. Declaration July 5, 
1820. He then held pension certificate 12730 under origi- 
nal declaration of May 12, 1818. Service: "In the eight 
months service at Cambridge, Capt. Phillip Hubbard's 
Company, Col. Scammon's Regiment from June or July to 
the end thereof. In 1776 served under Capt. Jona Nowells, 
Col. Wm Prescotts Regiment in the Massachusetts line 
twelve months in New York. In 1777 he served under 
Capt. Elisha Shapleigh two months in Col. Storer's Regi- 
ment at Saratoga. In 1778 he served eight months in 



REVOLUTIONARY PENSION DECLARATIONS 29 

Capt. Thomas Hodgdon's company in Col. Poor's Regi- 
ment at West Point. In 1779 he served two months under 
Capt. John Goodwin at Penobscot in the District of 
Maine." 

Andrew Whittier of Guilford, N. H.; farmer; aged 
59; wife Anna aged 58; children P^lizabeth Whitcher 33, 
invalid, Timothy Whitcher 25, infirm, Jacob Whitcher, 18, 
Moses Whitcher 16, Andrew Whitcher, 13. Declaration 
July 18, 1820. He then held pension certificate 17002 
under original declaration September 9, 1819. Service: 
"As a private in the Company commanded by Capt. John 
Calef, Col. Pearce Long's Regiment, New Hampshire Line, 
Continental Establishment from about August 7th 1776 till 
August 8th 1777 & was discharged at Stillwater — was in 
the battle of Fort Ann." 

He filed an additional declaration September 6, 1823, 
and stated that his name had been placed on the pension 
list, and dropt therefrom on account of his property. 

Benjamin Wiggin, Tuftonborough, N. H. (Declar- 
ation missing.) 

Affidavit. We the suljscribers depose and say, that we have been 
acquainted with Benjamin Wiggin formerly of Stratham in the Countj' of 
Rockingham, now of Tuftonborough this County of Strafford for many 
years last past and believe him to be a man of strict truth and veracity, 
and whose character is unimpeachable; and have no doubt he served in 
the army of the United States in the New Hampshire Militia, New Hamp- 
shire line in the manner he has stated in the declaration he has made in 
order to entitle himself to a pension under the act of Congress passed 
June 7th 1832 

JOHN BROWN 
GRAFTON ABBOT 
JOHN LUCAS. 
Strafford s. s. 
Aug't 23 1S32 Sworn to before me: Joseph Farrkr, Justice of Peace. 

Lt. Col. Mark Wiggin of Wolfeborough, N. H.; 
husbandman; aged 74, no family living with him. Declar- 
ation July II, 1820. He then held pension certificate 



30 REVOLUTIONARY PENSION DECLARATIONS 

16309 under original declaration May 2, 1818. Service: 
He was commissioned a Captain of the first company of 
the Few Hampshire Regiment commanded by Col. Pierce 
Long, in August 1776 & served therein for one year and 
was honorably discharged the 8th of August, 1777 — He 
was a Major in the militia and assisted as such at the tak- 
ing of Burgoyne's Army, was a Lieut. Col. in Col. Kelly's 
Reg't with Gen'l Sullivan at Rhode Island 

Charles Willey of Lee, N. H.; aged 65; wife Deb- 
orah aged 62, children Lydia aged 22, Mark aged 12, Johur 
son aged 6. Declaration July 5, 1820. Service: "He 
entered as a Soldier in Capt. Amos Morrill's Company (as 
near as he can recollect in the month of March, 1777) and 
was attached to the Second New Hampshire Regiment in 
the New Hampshire line of Continental troops commanded 
by Col. Reid — that he continued to serve in said corps in 
the service of the United States until about the first of 
January 1778 when he was discharged from service in the 
State of New York." 

JosiAH Willey of Wolfborough, N. H.; farmer; aged 
70; wife 69; granddaughter 13. Declarations (August 17, 
1831 and) January 19, 1832. (He had a son Josiah Willey 
to whom he had deeded his homestead.) Service: Enlisted 
for one year in March, 1779, in the company commanded 
by Capt. Chase of Dover, Col. Reed's Regiment, continued 
until June, 1780, when he was discharged from the service 
at West Point in the State of New York. 

James Wilkinson of Alton, N. H.; aged 69; wife 
Lydia aged 45. Declaration July 11, 1820. He then held 
pension certificate 9618 under original declaration of April 
18, 1818. Service: 'He entered Capt. Wier's Comp'y, 
Col. Scammel's Regiment, New Hampshire line, in April. 
1777 for three years which time he served and was honour- 
ably discharged — he was at the taking of Burguoyne & was 
wounded in the head — was with Gen'l Sullivan in the 
Indian Country — in 1779 &c." 



REVOLUTIONARV PENSION DECLARATIONS 31 

Enoch Wingate of Milton, N. H.; aged 67; no family 
residing with him. Declaration July 4, 1820. He then 
held pension certificate 1194 under original declaration of 
April 7, 1 818. Service: "that he served in Capt. Nowell's 
Company, Second Regiment New Hampshire line — that he 
enlisted in said service about the month of April 1777 and 
Continued in s'd service untill the year 1780 when he was 
honourably discharged from the army." (Enoch Wingate 
engaged May i, 1777, for three years. Discharged May i, 
1780. Died August 4, 1828, according to McDuffee's His- 
tory of Rochester, N. H.) 

Elijah With am of Rochester, N. H.; age 65; wife 
Hitty aged 68; son John. Declaration July 5, 1820. He 
then held pension certificate 16120 under original declar- 
ation April 4, 1818. Service: "He entered November 1775 
in the Company of Capt. Silas Wild, in the Regiment com- 
manded by Col. Edmund Phinney in the Massachusetts 
line & served therein for the term of about one year & two 
months & was discharged at Fort W'm Henry or Lake 
George about the first of Jan'y 1777." 

Nathan Witham of Meredith, N. H. (Declaration 
missing.) 

Affidavit. We Rhoda Bagley and Sally G. Bagley both of Mere- 
dith in the County of Strafford and State of New Hampshire, depose and 
say, that we were acquainted with Nathan Witham a Pensioner of the 
United States and was on the Pension Roll in the State of Maine, and 
that the said Nathan Witham departed this life on the sixth day of 
November 1824 — And further depose and say that Rhoda Witham the 
Widow of said Nathan Witham deceased, was living a few days since, 
and have not any doubts they were lawfully married as they lived together 
many years and were the parents of seven children, and I the said Rhoda 
}5agley being one of their children. 

RHODA BAGLEY. 
SALLY G. BAGLEY. 

State of New Hampshire ) . .0 

Strafford County s.s. [ Aug. 31st 1832 

Sworn and subscribed to on the day and year last above written, 
Before me 

Daniel Gale, Jus. Peace. 



32 REVOLUTIONARY PENSION DECLARATIONS 

Daniel Woodman of Durham, N. H.; aged 70; wife 
Nancy aged 64. Declaration July 4, 1820. He then held 
pension certificate 9617 under origiual declaration of April 
19, 1818. Service: "He entered on the 24th June 1777 in 
Capt. Rowell's company in Col. Geo. Reid's Reg't New 
Hampshire line as a private Soldier & continued in said 
Regiment three years next ensuing said enlistment, when 
he was regularly discharged." 

Jeremiah Woodman of Alton, N. H.; aged 59; wife 
Mary, 59; daughter Hannah aged 19. Declaration July 18, 
1820. He then held pension certificate 13885 under origi- 
nal declaration April 21, 181 8. Service: "He entered Capt. 
Brown's Company in Col. Long's Regiment in the New 
Hampshire line, August 1776 for one year and was dis- 
charged after serving his time out in August 1777." 

James Worcester of Alton, N. H.; aged 69; wife 
aged 69; Betsey Dorr aged 67 infirm. Declaration July 
II, 1820. He then held pension certificate 13550 under 
original declaration April 21, 1818. Service: "In 1776 I en- 
listed into the Company commanded by Capt. Beal, attached 
to Col. Scammell's Reg't, New Hampshire line and in ser- 
vice during the war. I was in the battle at Bemis heights, 
and with Gen'l Sullivan at the battle at Jamestown and at 
the surrender of Cornwallis." 

Samuel Yeaton of Durham, N. H.; Cooper; aged ^y, 
wife Margaret aged 72. Declaration July 4, 1820, by his 
guardian John Yeaton (Samuel Yeaton being insane). He 
held a pension certificate 9621 under original declaration of 
April I, 181 8. Service: "He said Samuel Yeaton being 
now insane and under the care of a Guardian this blank 
cannot be filled." 

Samuel York of Guilford, N. H.; farmer; aged 69; 
wife Molly aged 61. Declaration July 18, 1820. He then 
held pension certificate 7720 under original declaration 
April 4, 1818. Service: "As a private in the Company 



REVOLUTIONARY PENSION DECLARATIONS 33 

commanded by Captain Isaac Frye — Col. Dearborn's Regi- 
ment, New Hampshire line, from the spring of 1780, untill 
the close of the War in 1783, in July when the Army was 
disbanded." 

Jonathan Young of Milton, N. H.; Cooper;aged 68; 
wife in 79th year; daughter Anny Garlin, widow, aged 33; 
grandson aged 3 named Ebenezer Garland.. Declaration 
July 4, 1820. He then held pension certificate 14328 under 
original declaration April 14, 181 8. Service: "That he 
enlisted in the town of Manchester in the State of Massa- 
chusetts in May 1775 under Capt. Kimball in Col. Mans- 
field's Regiment for 8 months and marched to Cambridge, 
and continued there untill fall following when he enlisted 
for one year in said Kimballs company in Col. Hutchin- 
son's Regiment and marched to New York & continued 
there untill fall following — then went to fourt lee & had a 
skirmish with the enemy & was obliged to retreat; thence 
went to Pennsylvania and crossed the river at Clintown & 
had a battle with the enemy and took about nine hundred 
of them and was there discharged in December one thou- 
sand seven hundred and seventy six." 

Durham, N. H., June 18, 1907. 
Strafford, ss. 

I, Lucien Thompson, a notary public in and for the county of Straf- 
ford and state of New Hampshire, hereby certify that I carefully copied 
the foregoing Revolutionary Pension Declarations from originals on file at 
the office of the clerk of the Superior Court of Strafford County, New 
Hampshire, in the court house at Dover, N, H. 

I certify further that those declarations of Revolutionary service 
enclosed in quotation marks are true copies of said Revolutionary service 
and that those not enclosed with quotations are abstracts of said service, 
which include all essential information. 

LUCIEN THOMPSON, 

Notary Public. 
[SEAL.] 



34 REVOLUTIONARY PENSION DECLARATIONS 

SPECIMEN OF PENSION DECLARATION UNDER ACT OF 1818 

Statement of Military Record of Joseph Richardson 

Joseph Richardson doth here in Court further declare on oath, that 
he served in the revolutionary war as follows, viz: In the spring of 1775 
I enlisted in Capt. Benj'n Titcomb's company in the 2d N. H. Regiment 
commanded by Col. Poor for the term of 8 months during which I was 
present at an affair with the enemy at Charlestown neck, immediately after 
the expiration of this term I reenlisted in the same Company and regiment 
for the term of twelve months during which I was present at the retreat of 
the American army from Canada and was severely wounded in the arm by 
a party of Indians in consequence of which disability I was after the lapse 
of thirty years placed upon the Invalid pension list; — about the expiration 
of my term of service I was present at the capture of the Hessians at 
Trenton in Dec. 1776, having volunteered the additional term of six weeks 
after the expiration of my enlistment. I was likewise present at the affair 
at Princeton about the same time in which my cartridge box containing my 
pittance of savings was shot from my side and destroyed by a cannon ball: 
— Afterwards enhsted in the same company and regiment (then com- 
manded by Col. Hale.) for a term of three years — was present at the retreat 
from Ticonderoga in 1777 and was in the engagement at Hubbardston 
where I was wounded in the shoulder — I afterwards assisted at the capture 
of Burgoyne in the autunin of the same year and then marched into winter 
quarters at Valley Forge. — In the year 1778 was at Monmouth and spent 
the season with the main army at White Plains &c. — In the year 1779 
marched with Maj. Gen. Sullivan into the Indian Country and was present 
at the engagement with the Indians at Newtown. 

After the return of the army I was in the month of January 1780 
honorably discharged at Danbury in the State of Connecticut my term of 
service having expired and after having spent nearly five years of the 
flower of my life and lost the service of my limbs in the cause of my 
country nor was it until the year 1809 that my duty to my family required 
me to apply for the same renumeration for these sacrifices when the pitiful 
allowance of Two dollars and fifty cents upon the pension list was made 
me which was regarded not as a favor, but as an inadequate compensation 
for a debt earned with the greatest exertion & suffering, 

JOSEPH RICHARDSON* 
A resident citizen of the United States, March 18, 1818. 



*Jo.seph Richardson, Esquire, was appointed Captain of the Company of Artillery in the 
Regiment commanded by Col. Thomas Thompson in the State of New Hampshire, by John 
Sullivan, Esq., President of our State, at Dnrham the fifteenth day of March, A. D. 1787, 
Joseph Pearson, Secretarjr. 



REVOLUTIONARY PENSION DECLARATIONS 



35 



Captain Joseph Richardson was born in Boston, Mass., 
December 25, 1756, and died in Durham, N. H., November 
22, 1824, and was buried in the village cemetery. He mar- 
ried Sarah (Burnham) Hanson of Dover, who was born 
December 22, 1762, and died December 19, 183 1. They 
were married by Rev. Jeremy Belknap, December 14, 
1783. They had eight children. 

Durham, N. H., June 18, 1907. 
Strafford, ss. 

I, Lucien Thompson, a notary public in and for the county of Straf- 
ford and state of New Hampshire, hereby certify that the foregoing is a 
true copy of a paper in the possession of Hon. Joshua B. Smith of Dur- 
ham, N. H., said copy being carefully made by myself within three months 
from date. 

LUCIEN THOMPSON, 

A^otary Public. 

[SEAL.] 




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